Common Chronic Illnesses and Conditions That Cause Chronic Pain

Living with chronic illness or persistent pain can be isolating, exhausting, and frustrating—especially when the people around you don’t fully understand what you’re going through.

At The Chronic Haven, we provide a space for individuals navigating long-term health conditions to connect, find support, and share experiences. Chronic pain isn’t just a symptom; it’s a life-altering reality that stems from a wide range of illnesses, many of which are misunderstood or overlooked. Below is a list of some of the most common chronic illnesses and conditions that bring members to our support group, each with its own challenges and complexities. If you recognize yourself in any of these, know that you’re not alone—this community is here for you.

While there are far more rare diseases and chronic illnesses than we could possibly list, here are some of the most common conditions we hear about from our members.

Common Chronic Illnesses

These are long-term conditions that significantly impact daily life and may or may not involve chronic pain.

Autoimmune Diseases

  • Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

  • Lupus

  • Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis

  • Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

  • Type 1 Diabetes

  • Celiac Disease

  • Sjögren’s Syndrome

Metabolic & Endocrine Disorders

  • Type 2 Diabetes

  • Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

  • Adrenal Insufficiency (Addison’s Disease)

Cardiovascular & Blood Disorders

  • Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)

  • Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)

  • Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS - vascular subtype)

Multi-Systemic Diseases

  • Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS)

  • Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) (or, ME/CFS)

  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

  • Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

Neurological & Nervous System Disorders

  • Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

  • Parkinson’s Disease

  • Epilepsy

  • Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)

  • Dysautonomia (including POTS)

  • Fibromyalgia

Gastrointestinal Disorders

  • Crohn’s Disease

  • Ulcerative Colitis

  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

  • Gastroparesis

Mental Health Conditions (That Can Have Physical Symptoms)

  • Depression

  • Anxiety Disorders

  • PTSD & C-PTSD

  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Chronic pain isn’t just a symptom—it’s a condition in itself, often stemming from a wide range of underlying illnesses and disorders.

Conditions That Commonly Cause Chronic Pain

Whether caused by nerve damage, autoimmune dysfunction, musculoskeletal issues, or unexplained central sensitization, chronic pain can be relentless and life-altering. Below are some of the most common conditions that lead to persistent, widespread, or localized pain, many of which are frequently discussed within The Chronic Haven community.

Musculoskeletal & Connective Tissue Disorders

  • Fibromyalgia

  • Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS)

  • Osteoarthritis

  • Ankylosing Spondylitis

  • Myofascial Pain Syndrome

Inflammatory & Autoimmune Pain Disorders

  • Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

  • Psoriatic Arthritis

  • Lupus

  • Sarcoidosis

Pelvic & Reproductive Pain Conditions

  • Endometriosis

  • Interstitial Cystitis (IC)

  • Vulvodynia

Neuropathic Pain Conditions

  • Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)

  • Trigeminal Neuralgia

  • Peripheral Neuropathy

  • Sciatica

Headache & Migraine Disorders

  • Chronic Migraine

  • Cluster Headaches

  • Tension Headaches

Gastrointestinal Pain Conditions

  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

  • Gastroparesis

  • Crohn’s Disease

Rare diseases may be classified as “uncommon,” but for those who live with them, they’re an everyday reality filled with challenges, medical uncertainty, and the need for specialized care.

Recognized Rare Diseases

While there are thousands of rare diseases—many of which are under-researched and poorly understood—below are some of the most recognized conditions that frequently come up in discussions within The Chronic Haven community.

Genetic & Connective Tissue Disorders

  • Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (various subtypes)

  • Marfan Syndrome

  • Stickler Syndrome

  • Loeys-Dietz Syndrome

Autoimmune & Inflammatory Diseases

  • Behçet’s Disease

  • Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS)

  • Relapsing Polychondritis

  • Scleroderma

Gastrointestinal & Metabolic Disorders

  • Mitochondrial Disease

  • Short Bowel Syndrome

  • Whipple’s Disease

Neurological & Neuromuscular Disorders

  • Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS)

  • Chiari Malformation

  • Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS)

  • CIDP (Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy)

  • Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia

Vascular & Blood Disorders

  • Hemochromatosis

  • Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APS)

  • Moyamoya Disease

  • Lupus

Painful & Rare Chronic Pain Conditions

  • Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)

  • Erythromelalgia

Many chronic illnesses and pain conditions come with co-morbidities—additional medical conditions that frequently occur together.

Common Co-Morbidities of Chronic Illness & Chronic Pain

These can include physical complications, nervous system dysfunctions, and mental health challenges that arise as a direct or indirect result of chronic illness. Here’s a categorized list of the most common co-morbidities and mental health diagnoses found alongside chronic illnesses and pain conditions.

Autonomic & Nervous System Dysfunctions

  • Dysautonomia (including POTS, Neurocardiogenic Syncope)

  • Small Fiber Neuropathy (SFN)

  • Chronic Fatigue Syndrome / Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS)

  • Autonomic Dysfunction (common in EDS, MCAS, Long COVID)

Cardiovascular & Circulatory Issues

  • Hypertension or Hypotension (common in POTS, EDS, and autoimmune diseases)

  • Raynaud’s Syndrome (poor circulation causing cold/numb extremities)

  • Blood Clotting Disorders (e.g., Antiphospholipid Syndrome, common in lupus and autoimmune patients)

  • Tachycardia & Bradycardia (irregular heart rates, common in POTS and dysautonomia)

Musculoskeletal & Chronic Pain Co-Morbidities

  • Osteoarthritis (can develop earlier in patients with EDS, lupus, or rheumatoid arthritis)

  • Chronic Myofascial Pain Syndrome

  • Joint Hypermobility Syndrome (JHS) (often a precursor to full EDS diagnosis)

  • Pelvic Floor Dysfunction (common in endometriosis, IC, and EDS)

Gastrointestinal & Metabolic Co-Morbidities

  • Gastroparesis (delayed stomach emptying, common in POTS, EDS, and diabetes)

  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

  • Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

  • Histamine Intolerance (common with MCAS)

  • Mitochondrial Dysfunction (impacts energy production, common in ME/CFS and rare metabolic disorders)

Inflammatory & Autoimmune-Related Co-Morbidities

  • Interstitial Cystitis (IC) (chronic bladder pain, common in EDS, MCAS, fibromyalgia)

  • Chronic Sinusitis (often seen in MCAS and autoimmune conditions)

  • Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ/TMD) (chronic jaw pain, linked to fibromyalgia and EDS)

  • Psoriasis or Psoriatic Arthritis (common in autoimmune patients)

Chronic illness and chronic pain don’t just affect the body—they take a massive toll on mental health.

Mental Health Diagnoses Commonly Seen with Chronic Illness

Many patients experience these conditions as a result of long-term medical trauma, nervous system dysregulation, or the isolating nature of chronic illness. Depression and anxiety are linked to low serotonin, which can be caused by some medical conditions previously listed (in particular, ADHD, depression, and MS).

Mood Disorders

  • Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

  • Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia)

  • Bipolar Disorder

Trauma-Related & Medical PTSD

  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (can develop from medical trauma, surgeries, or prolonged suffering)

  • Complex PTSD (C-PTSD) (common in those with childhood medical neglect or repeated medical trauma)

  • Somatic Trauma Responses (when stress manifests as physical symptoms, seen in functional neurological disorders)

Eating & Nutritional Disorders

  • Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) (often seen in MCAS and gastroparesis)

  • Disordered Eating Patterns (due to nausea, pain, or food sensitivities)

Anxiety & Stress-Related Disorders

  • Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

  • Panic Disorder

  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

  • Health Anxiety / Hypochondria (exacerbated by medical trauma)

Neurodivergence & Cognitive Conditions

  • Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) (often co-occurs with EDS, ME/CFS, and autoimmune conditions)

  • Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) (increasingly linked to EDS, MCAS, and immune dysfunction)

  • Brain Fog / Cognitive Dysfunction (common in Long COVID, ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, and POTS)